My books
The Poster
Runner-Up in the 2023/24 Pen to Print Book Challenge Award.
Seemingly abandoned by their parents, siblings Lena and Alek are caught up at different ends of a war – while Lena designs propaganda posters in Plymouth, Alek is forced into the army. Both dream of escape, of another life … but as the war continues and they find each other, they question whom they can trust.
When survival is everything, is everyone an enemy?
"Since the war - a conflict between England and the Continentals (Europe) - Cornwall is now known as Kernow and is no longer a part of England. Lena and Alek’s parents moved to Kernow before the border closed and Lena, particularly, is desperate to reunite with them. She is stuck, however, illustrating propaganda posters for the government - referred to ominously as The Party - and three weeks before the novel begins Alek has been press ganged into the army. Alek’s views on his parents relocation to Kernow are a little more unforgiving than his sisters, viewing their move as one of abandonment rather than pragmatism. With Lena becoming increasingly uncomfortable with her role in assisting a despotic regime and the military life of Alek where obeying orders from your superiors is the only thing that matters, the inevitable drifting apart of the siblings looks set. The book is structured with alternate chapters for Lena and Alek. This works brilliantly in giving the reader the lived experience of each. The reader is with Alek on the battlefield fighting for his life and then with Lena illustrating her propaganda posters and surviving on increasingly slim rations due to her plummeting Social Credit (a number indicating your value to the state based on trust and loyalty and willingness to follow the Party line). When Lena finds out one of her posters could possibly have led to the loss of life of a number of people trying to escape to Kernow, she begins to sense the true nature of her role - and wants out. She desperately wants Alek to join her but she doesn’t even know where he is. Then she meets Rob. And the mysterious ladies of The Townswomen’s Guild. In the meantime, Alek desperately wants to know his big sister is okay. He misses her dearly. He only wants her to be safe. But when he is sent on a special mission that takes him closer to her than he ever expected, he sees this war - like all wars - leaves no-one unchanged. The quality of writing in The Poster is excellent. The Alek chapters are stunning. The battlefield scenes are up there with some of the best I’ve read. The thumping pace, the terseness of the prose, the brutality and the bleakness all contribute to a truly visceral read. The Lena chapters are no less effective, just from the other side of the looking glass, if you like. Lena too is in the thick of battle, a battle where the casualties are trust and friendship, self-worth and love, and what it means to be human. One definition of dystopian is ‘an imagined world of society in which people lead wretched, dehumanised, fearful lives’. This a description of the lives of both Alek and Lena. And when these lives inevitably hurtle to their pulsating conclusion, the reader is left breathless yet thankful the world of The Poster is not quite our reality, yet. But aware it could be just a heartbeat away."
Stone and Water
When the Romans invade Britain, the Celtic tribes are fragmented and the old magic has long been forgotten. Fedlimid, the daughter of a Cornovii chieftain, is the victim of an inter-tribe dispute but is saved by Druistan, a swineherd from another tribe.
As the Romans march westwards, Fedlimid and Druistan are forced to deal with kidnapping, death and betrayal.
Growing up in strange lands, away from home, they discover untapped sources of bravery and strength and something even older.
But will bravery be enough when the final battle comes?
"Stone and Water will sit on your shelf alongside the great historical writers of our childhoods - Roger Lancelyn Green, Rosemary Sutcliff, Henry Treece. James Marshall takes us through a magical gateway to experience everyday life in late Iron Age Britain as the first raiding parties of the Roman Empire reach the Southern tribal domains. You will smell the bonfires and roasting meat, feel the soaking rains of Exmoor, taste the fear as a Roman contingent slashes its way through your dun. A book for young and old alike that will leave you wanting more." Mandi Abrahams, Castle Books.
Coaches' Corner
James Marshall is an experienced sports coach, educator, and accomplished athlete.
In a series of essays written over the last decade, he lays out a landscape of practical advice for sports coaches, physical education teachers and interested parents, that puts children first.
Ranging from useful advice on session planning, fitness testing and athlete motivation to critical thinking, and thought-provoking essays on why perceived wisdom may not be so wise.
This book is ideal for those setting out on a coaching journey, as well as experienced teachers and coaches who feel that something is 'wrong' with their system and are looking for guidance on how to improve their children's experiences.
About Me
I live and work in Devon, UK. I've been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I started to write fiction in 2008 when I discovered a local writing group by chance.
During the many COVID lockdowns, I joined an online group and submitted dozens of short stories to journals: all of them got rejected.
My short story, "Tales from the Shop Floor", was based on my work at Tesco in the first lockdown.
It won the Pen to Print short story of the year award in 2022.
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I then submitted a novel synopsis to Pen to Print and won a year's mentoring and editing package worth £5000!
Within a year, I completed my first novel, "The Poster", which was runner-up in 2024 for the 'Book of the Year' award.
My novels reflect my time spent on Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor, as well as in Plymouth, Looe and what is now Duloe.
Apart from writing, I spend as much time with my teenage children as they will tolerate, and compete as a Masters' weightlifter. I like to walk in the countryside and barbecue at the weekend.
Q&A
Where do you get your ideas from?
A small warehouse in South Dakota.
Seriously, I read, walk along the many paths in the South West of England, and pay attention to the human condition. Creativity comes from making connections rather than staring at a blank page or, heaven forbid, asking for help from AI!
What's your favourite genre?
Genres are for booksellers and libraries: they make categorisation simple. However, my tastes in reading and writing are varied.
I love a well-written book that has a plot. That sounds simple, but it's rare enough. Fast-paced thrillers with thinly drawn characters, or wishy-washy, trendy books that please the literati, but in which nothing happens, are not to my taste.
I try to write something that my children and I would enjoy reading.
What's your favourite part about writing?
I like putting pen to paper and writing to a prompt for twenty minutes. I'm always surprised at what comes out.
Once I've done this a few times, I somehow manage to link a few pieces together and the semblance of a bigger plot emerges.